TAKE ALUK AT THAT: Sone Aluko come to the rescue of Steve Bruce and Hull City [GETTY ]

The Nigeria striker's volley ten minutes from time spared Steve Bruce's blushes against Slovakian side AS Trencin.

Trencin took a shock lead after 91 seconds through Tomas Malec but Ahmed Elmohamady levelled with Hull's first ever goal in Europe midway through the first half.

Bruce then sent on Aluko as a late sub to win it.

Hull were held to a goalless draw in Zilina seven days earlier but they really should have had their noses in front.

Tom Huddlestone had a penalty saved before somehow smacking the rebound off the bar from three yards.

Steve Bruce will point to the fact his squad have had their summer holidays cut short by the Europa League.

But, with an extra week's training under their belts, he was demanding better on home soil in front of a sell-out KC Stadium.

Bruce opted to freshen up his team by giving Robert Snodgrass his first competitive start as one of three changes to the line-up. Yannick Sagbo, Robbie Brady also came in as Sone Aluko, Liam Rosenior and David Meyler made way.

But it was the visitors who looked sharpest and they sent their 100 travelling fans into ecstasy when they grabbed the lead after 91 seconds.

RED FACED: Steve Bruce could have been left blushing had Sone Aluko not scored 10 mins from time [GETTY ]

“Liam Rosenior then went close before Snodgrass saw a curling free-kick comfortably saved by Volesak”

Trencin burst forward on the counter-attack Frantisek Kubik surged down the right and his low cross was rifled under Allan McGregor by Malec.

The away goal meant Hull were heading out and it almost got worse seven minutes later when McGregor was forced to beat away Jakub Holubek's drive.

Hull had their first glimpse of goal when Yannick Sagbo's flick on sent Shane Long through, only for the Irish striker's attempted chip to be saved by Milos Volesak in the Trencin goal.

Long missed then missed a great double chance to equalise midway through the first half, his first shot saved before the second attempt was scuffed wide.

Luckily for Long, Hull were level three minutes later. His pass released Brady and his delicious cross was headed home at the back post by Elmohamady. It was Hull's first goal in Europe.

The Tigers had their tails up but Long was still struggling as his fourth big chance of the night went begging when he headed straight at Volesak after another Sagbo flick.

Trencin started the second half like they did the first and were unlucky not to regain the lead but Hajradinovic saw his deflected drive spin just wide

Liam Rosenior then went close before Snodgrass saw a curling free-kick comfortably saved by Volesak.

Hull were on their way out on away goals as Tom Ince and Aluko were sent on to rescue the situation.

Aluko did the business when he volleyed in from Snodgrass's header across goal after Elmohamady's cross - his first goal in 11 months.

Celtic have been thrown a Champions League lifeline amid claims Legia Warsaw fielded an ineligible player in the second leg of their 6-1 qualifying round victory.

The Scottish champions could see the result overturned after UEFA launched an investigation when it emerged Legia substitute Bartosz Bereszynski may not have completed a ban left over from last season.